Another trip into the unknown for Villagers

Ngongotaha AFC coach Shane Davis believes star striker Mitch Miller should have had two goals in last week's draw against Albany Utd. PHOTO/FILE

Ngongotaha AFC coach Shane Davis is in a very familiar position going into today's Northern League Second Division game against Takapuna.

He knows very little about the opposition.

The Villagers travel to Auckland to take on Takapuna AFC, who sit fifth in the Northern League Division 2. It will, as it is with all Northern League fixtures so far, be the first time the teams have met this season.

''It's not until the first round [ends] that we'll have an idea what all these teams are like,'' said Davis.

''Although, if a team has money, then they are favoured to win. We haven't got that luxury, we're just little country boys trying to make it in the big league.''

While Ngongotaha sit next to bottom in their first season in the Northern League, after romping away with the WaiBOP premiership title last year, Davis thinks they are doing little wrong.

''We are doing everything right - it's just that the other teams managed to score a goal out of the blue.

''I felt we should have won last week's game, but they scored directly off a corner.''

He also felt a legitimate ''goal'' wasn't given when the referee and his assistant ruled the ball had failed to cross the line after a Mitch Miller shot.

The game, at home to Albany Utd, ended 2-2.

But, said Davis, his players were learning.

''The players have been a little bit frustrated because they are not used to losing after the year before, and that's something they've had to overcome.

''Playing in this league you have to give 100 per cent on the field, there's no time to relax, where they could in the other league. They are getting pushed right to the limit which is good for them.''

Davis said it was a case of plugging away, hoping things would start going his side's way and they could get on a good run of results.

Ngongotaha will be without key midfielder Alan Ferguson who suffered a broken hand in last week's game. Aside from that, Davis said his side will be close to the one that drew last weekend.

In WaiBOP Premiership action, Rotorua United have a tricky assignment away to Waikato Unicol. Rotorua fourth on 12 points with Unicol three points ahead in third.